One of my nurses said they no longer give baby lotion to parents to apply on their newborn because they want babies to keep their own baby smell.
I'm using baby lotion for my NSTs instead of the u/s gel. My nurse grabbed all of the baby lotion from the floor for me (because she said its not really needed on the birth floor anymore). Plus, I'm here for 2 more weeks and I'll have lots of NSTs until the babies come.
Did your hospital let you apply baby lotion to your newborn after you gave birth?
grapefruit / 4355 posts
I had no desire or need to put lotion on DD in the hospital. I'm curious why you think you'll need to.
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
@Mrs.KMM: Oh, I don't really care either way. Hasn't really crossed my mind. I was just thinking that maybe other parents put lotion on after giving their baby a bath.
The only reason I bring this question up is because of what the nurse told me.
I edited my original post and wasn't clear that the nurse was the one that grabbed all the baby lotion because baby lotion isn't given out on the birth floor and that I use it so often because of my frequent NSTs.
So my question about the use of baby lotion is just a curious question I have.
grapefruit / 4355 posts
Ahh - got it. Yeah - it never came up. DD really didn't need it. And even now, I put lotion on her maybe once a week (and it's more because I think it smells good than that she really needs it)! 
pomelo / 5607 posts
I was specifically told not to use lotion on her, because it doesn't really do anything and there's a risk it'll irritate her skin. We have some non-chemically lotion, but I've only used it once.
pomegranate / 3658 posts
We've never put lotion on her. It never occurred to me to. Her skin is already the softest thing I've ever touched.
pineapple / 12053 posts
I asked because has some funky looking skin and the nurses told me not to worry about it and no lotion! We used vanicream when we were home
bananas / 9973 posts
Hmm didn't occur to us in the hospital! She had a bath where the nurse did everything. And then first bath at home, grandma wanted to. I think we might have put some lotion on then? But honestly drawing a blank as to when we started using lotion every night!
kiwi / 556 posts
I was told by our pediatrician not to put lotion on her initially. She said to anticipate dry skin but to let it heal on its own (and she was right! My daughter's hands, legs, and feet were especially dry the first couple weeks). From the little I read, they say it is good to postpone lotion use due to their sensitive skin (another reason to avoid fragranced baby wipes too). Now at 2 months, I will use a little maybe after a bath but not on her whole body.
pear / 1580 posts
Similar to others, I was told not to use lotion because he doesn't need it. He had kinda flakey skin, and apparently lotion wouldn't have really helped anyway and that I could let them naturally fall off and smooth out.
kiwi / 635 posts
Nope on the lotion. When we give baths at home we use coconut oil afterwards.
watermelon / 14467 posts
We did, but H had some very dry and cracked feet. We only used it on the cracks.
grapefruit / 4321 posts
No lotion as per the docs and nurses. LO did have some bad cracking of her skin on her wrists and ankles and the ped told us to just use a little Vaseline.
pineapple / 12793 posts
No lotion. Our hospital does delayed baths. DD1 was two days old before she had a bath. DD2 got hers at 25 hours because we were getting discharged.
pomelo / 5000 posts
Not at the hospital. I did when she was home--unscented California Baby stuff we still have at 7 months. I knew the flaking was natural, but still felt the need to do something for her. Not necessary!
honeydew / 7283 posts
We've hardly ever used lotion on either of our kids. Just occasionally on dry spots maybe.
pomelo / 5660 posts
Honestly, I have no idea. DH gave DD her first bath and DS was in NiCU and the nurses bathed him.
eggplant / 11861 posts
Nope no lotion until after her cord came off, I use a dime size amount nightly for a massage before bed
coconut / 8079 posts
My son was in the NICU for an extended period of time (but not a preemie) and one of the PTs gave us some unscented aloe lotion and some lessons in newborn massage.
honeydew / 7230 posts
There was too much other stuff going on to worry about lotion. I was pretty much fully occupied trying to get them nursing the entire time. DH did all the diaper changes and care for the babies, but there wasn't any lotion anywhere so I'm sure he wasn't lathering them up. He was preoccupied with the very basics too!
grapefruit / 4455 posts
No, I didn't even think of it! But the pediatrician did suggest cetaphil or aquaculture because she had very dry skin, almost like if she were overdue but she wasn't.
pomegranate / 3565 posts
I have no idea. I don't remember and it wasn't something I thought about. But I put lotion on them right away when I bathed them at home.
bananas / 9357 posts
No lotion needed! I don't think I ever really put lotion on my babies. If you avoid having them bathed for a day or two the vernix is great for their skin.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
ETA: ds2 is 5.5 wks old and we still haven't used any lotion on him.
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